Musink music and tattoo festival opens in Costa Mesa

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NOFX performs at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

A Wilhelm Scream performance at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

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A Wilhelm Scream performance at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

A Wilhelm Scream performance at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

A Wilhelm Scream performance at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

A Wilhelm Scream performance at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

A Wilhelm Scream performance at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

A Wilhelm Scream performance at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

A Wilhelm Scream performance at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

Lagwagon performs at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

Lagwagon performs at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

NOFX performs at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

A Wilhelm Scream performance at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

A Wilhelm Scream performance at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

Tania the Vixxen gets ready to be tattooed by Manuel Flowers of Arizona at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

Josh Martin of Torrance, gets tattooed by London Reese of San Clemente, at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

Josh Martin of Torrance, gets tattooed by London Reese of San Clemente, at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

Rachel Barbieri of The Beauty Mark shows off her ink Josh at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

Rachel Barbieri of The Beauty Mark shows off her ink Josh at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

Ruth Varele of Alhambra, gets tattooed by Joanny Garcia of Cryptic Tattoos, at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

Tattoo Louie of Cryptic Tattoo in Azusa shows off his ink at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

Dolce Guevara of Los Angeles tattoos a portrait at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

Dolce Guevara of Los Angeles tattoos a portrait at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

Twin brothers Brain and Mark Vaillancourt show off their ink at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

Brain Vaillancourt shows off his ink at Musink at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Warn, Contributing Photographer)

Hundreds of fans filed in early for the 10th annual Musink Tattoo Convention & Music Festival in OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Friday.

The three-day fest, curated by Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, continues through the weekend with hundreds of world renowned tattoo artists showcasing some of their best work and tattooing patrons on site in one hangar, while a crop of punk rock bands entertain fans in another.

“I like that it’s not just all about tattoos and it’s not just all about the music,” Barker said following his meet and greet with VIP fans.

“People that show up here to get tattoos, they are dedicated and they get gutsy and get pieces they probably wouldn’t normally get anywhere else. Then there’s the music and you’ve got guys like NOFX and Bad Religion this year. It just keeps getting better and better.”

Walking through the convention, lots of guests had made appointments with a variety of artists for tattoos, most of which were being done on the upper thigh. Sprawled out on tattoo tables they grimaced through the pain or peacefully listened to music with headphones on as artists tattooed their flesh, some of the pieces looking as if they’d have to be completed in sessions throughout the weekend.

Others took in the Low and Slow Car Show, a portion of Musink that has grown considerably this year to include almost showroom quality features to show off these low riders, some of which are valued now at over $600,000. Fans sported a lot of green and grabbed cold cups of beer since day one fell on St. Patrick’s Day and headed into the main hangar to enjoy early sets by A Wilhelm Scream and Lagwagon, waiting for headlining sets by Orange County’s own, the Vandals and punk rock staples, NOFX.

The Used, Glassjaw, Goldfinger, Story of the Year and Hell or Highwater will perform on Saturday and Bad Religion, Pennywise, Swingin’ Utters and Unwritten Law will close out the convention on Sunday.

Doors open at noon Saturday and Sunday for the convention and the bands start after 4 p.m. in the main hangar.

Kelli Skye Fadroski lives for entertainment. She’s worked at The Orange County Register since 2006 and has covered all things music, stand-up comedy, horror and more. When she’s not out reviewing a concert or interviewing some random famous person, she’s catching up on episodes of 'The Walking Dead,' somewhere sampling craft beer, enjoying Taco Tuesday or yelling at the contestants through the TV on 'Celebrity Name Game' for not knowing basic pop culture trivia. She’s also a diehard Detroit Lions fan.